Egil's Saga tells the story of the long and brutal life of the tenth-century warrior-poet and farmer Egil Skallagrimsson. He is a morally ambiguous character who both composes refined poetry and is capable of unimaginable cruelty. The saga describes Egil's development from youthful cruelty to mature wisdom. He struggles to avenge his father, who has been banished from Norway, defends his honor against King Erik Bloodaxe of Norway, and fights for the English King Athelstan in his war against Scotland. Themes such as loyalty, the power of poetry, and the relationship between two brothers in love with the same woman are explored. Egil's Saga is a captivating account of a deeply human character.